1,859 Students Die by Committing Suicide in Five Years

Suicide has emerged as a major public health crisis worldwide. While the tendency is rising across all age groups, student suicides have become a particularly alarming concern in Bangladesh. Statistics show that at least 1,859 students died by suicide in the country over the past five years, with the majority being school-level students.

An examination of why suicide is increasing among students points to factors such as depression, emotional distress, resentment, and an inability to regulate emotions. One such case is that of Masud Al Mahadi, a student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at University of Dhaka, who took his own life in 2021 due to frustration and mental pressure caused by unemployment. Despite strong academic results and success in competitive exams, he could not cope with the stress of not securing a job and died by suicide in his room the night before an exam. His death highlighted the mental health crisis facing thousands of young people in the country.

Zian, who recently completed his studies at Comilla University, also spoke about this pressure. He said his stress is increasing every day due to unemployment, the inability to meet family expectations, and uncertainty about the future. “Sometimes I feel like ending everything,” he said. “But the next moment I realize that suicide cannot be a solution.”

According to statistics from the social and voluntary organization Aanchal Foundation, school-level students face the highest risk of suicide. Overall, about 50 percent of total suicides involve school students, around 25 percent university students, 18 percent college students, and 10 percent madrasa students. Adolescent emotions, family pressure, and psychological instability further increase this risk.

In 2025, among 403 students who died by suicide, 190 were school students—nearly 47.4 percent. In 2024, 189 of 310 cases involved school students; in 2023, 227 out of 513; and in 2022, out of a total of 532 student suicides, 446 were from school, college, and madrasa levels. The year 2021, meanwhile, saw a particularly high number of suicides among university students. That year, 101 university students across the country died by suicide, 62 of them from public universities.

Age-based analysis shows that students aged 13 to 19 are at the highest risk. In 2023, 66.5 percent of student suicides occurred in this age group, while in 2024 the figure was about 65.7 percent. Gender-based data indicate that in almost every year, female students accounted for the highest number of suicides, especially at the school and college levels. However, in 2021, the proportion of male students was comparatively higher at the university level, reflecting the intense financial and career uncertainty during the pandemic period.

Regionally, Dhaka Division ranks at the top in terms of suicide cases, followed by Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions. According to Aanchal Foundation, the most significant contributing factor behind this trend is emotional distress rooted in resentment and hurt feelings. In 2023, 32.2 percent of student suicides were linked solely to emotional grievances, while in 2024 the figure rose sharply to 46.1 percent.

In addition, complications and breakups in romantic relationships have emerged as another major cause. Other contributing factors include failure in examinations, unmet expectations, long-term depression, sexual harassment, family pressure, and even relatively minor psychological shocks. In some cases, incidents such as not getting a mobile phone, being restricted from playing games, or simple parental scolding have escalated into tragic outcomes.

To better understand the rising trend, Agamir Shomoy spoke with Ruma Khandaker, Head of the Mental Health Department and Clinical Psychologist at Sajida Foundation. She said the main causes of suicide include depression, anxiety, and a lack of emotional regulation. She added that due to changing social structures, digital dependence, and the rise of nuclear families, children and adolescents are often deprived of adequate emotional and human supports.